GLOBAL GOVERNANCE OF LOW EARTH ORBIT SATELLITE BROADBAND

INTERNET SOCIETY FOUNDATION RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM: DECOLONIZING THE INTERNET

This is the homepage for an Internet Society Foundation research project

  • Global Governance of Low Earth Orbit Satelite Broadband

as part of its Decolonizing the Internet program.

Since 2023 the project is in its second phase with a focus on "Trust and Data Governance".

This project provides a thorough, concise, research-based narrative on the need to ensure sustainable international policy for Low Earth Orbit satellites and internet access. This has been done through the identification of pending international law issues arising from the rapid development of SpaceX, OneWeb, Project Kuiper or GW, and, most recently, the EU IRIS2 project. Their summay was presented in a comprehensive report, accompanied by policy papers dedicated to civil society and government actors as well as a series of peer-reviewed and general interest publications combined with a versatile outreach activity. It also included setting up a regularly updated international law LEOs database.

The final project report, concluding its first phase, offered aswers to following key research questions:

  • What are the potential ‘data/digital sovereignty’ and jurisdictional challenges to the integration of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations onto the (5G) telecommunications network?
  • How will the current geopolitical and economic hegemony of developed states in standard-setting for LEO broadband impact developing countries?
  • What are the critical policy issues to be urgently considered by governmental and civil society actors when addressing the rapid development of LEO satelites based internet access?

You can find the full report here. In its current phase we look into data governance and its implications for building a trustworthy and resilient network. We focus on how can international and multistakeholder forums effectively address transnational data governance concerns, promote open and trustworthy Internet policy objectives, and bridge the capacity divide between the Global North and the Global South in the context of newly enhanced satellite Internet capabilities. 

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

The global internet infrastructure is rapidly evolving, with the proliferation of satellite constellations, especially in low Earth orbit (LEO), enhancing connectivity worldwide. These multi-orbital solutions are vital for expanding broadband access, particularly in underserved regions, offering hope for universal connectivity. However, mere availability isn't sufficient; meaningful connectivity must also be accessible, relevant, affordable, safe, trusted, user-empowering, and impactful. Trust, endorsed by organizations like the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and UNESCO, emerges as a central goal in data governance and cybersecurity.

In the cybersecurity and trust-related debates, governance encompasses diverse arrangements affecting data across borders. Trustworthiness and data governance intersect across all layers of the internet, from services to infrastructure. Despite efforts, cybersecurity remains a geopolitical concern, emphasizing the need for effective governance measures.

To ensure the success of satellite broadband, a multistakeholder approach is essential. Stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, service providers, and civil society, must collaborate transparently to address technical, business, and regulatory challenges. This collaboration involves analyzing data flow control, ensuring transparency in decision-making, and building user trust.

As results of its first phase this project offered a comprehensive analysis of these issues on developing country interests in the context of international law and reveal the shortcomings of the international law instruments in addressing the potential tension points. In its current, second phase, focused on data, we address a more targetted research question.

This phase of the LEOs research project aims to analyze why satellite broadband may fall short of user expectations, considering regulatory fragmentation and geopolitical tensions. By aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality), and SDG 17 (Partnerships to achieve the goal), the project seeks to enhance internet access, education, and economic growth.

The main research question is how international and multistakeholder forums can effectively address transnational data governance concerns and bridge the capacity gap between the Global North and South in the context of enhanced satellite internet capabilities. The project aims to explore international norms, the role of forums in fostering trust, and approaches for capacity building in developing countries. Through this, it seeks to contribute to a more open, trustworthy internet aligned with policy objectives and inclusive global development.

PROJECT RESULTS

PROJECT OUTPUTS

2022/02/22 Internet Policy Review: "Activated! Public dissent, internet access and satellite broadband"

2022/04/28: European Union Institute for Security Studies, EU Cyber Direct, Directions: "Satelite Internet Access in Times of Cyber Conflict"

2024/02/02: European Union Institute for Security Studies, EU Cyber Direct, Directions: "Resilient connectivity: SpaceX's Stellar Solution for Gaza's Internet Amid Conflict"

2023/10/15 CircleID: Is There a Role for ICANN in Satellite Internet Governance?

2024 Telecommunications Policy [forthcoming]: Equitable Access to Satellite Broadband Services

 

EVENTS AND OUTREACH

2023/05/05 [Switzerland, Geneva / online]: WSIS Forum 2023 session #496 Lasers in Space! Can Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites Close the Digital Divide? 

2023/05/15 [Italy, Padova]: GigArts 2023 Cyber Resilience and the Geopolitics of Cybersecurity 

2022/11/30 [Ethiopia, Addis Abeba / online]: IGF 2022 WS #399 Global Governance of LEO Satellite Broadband 

2022/11/28 [Ethiopia, Addis Abeba / online]: IGF 2022 Event #3 Global Internet Governance Academic Network Annual Symposium: "What we owe each other: equitable access to secure, affordable, and reliable LEO broadband satellite services" [draft]

2022/12/04 [Israel, Jerusalem / online]: Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Federmann School of Public Policy and Government, Department of Communication,  Seminar series: "Equitable Access to Secure, Affordable, and Reliable LEO Broadband Satellite Services - a development perspective" [ppt]

2022/12/14 [UK, London / online]: King's College London,  Dickson Poon School of Law Research Seminar: "Global Governance of LEO Satellite Broadband" [ppt]

2022/12/16 [France, Paris]: GEODE: Geopolitics of Internet Routes: "Internet Access, LEO Broadband Satellite Services and international conflict – advancing the multistakeholder model to keep routes open, stable and secure" [ppt]

2023/01/26 [Belgium, Brussels]: ESDC  Cybersecurity and International Law: "Global Governance of LEO Satellite Broadband"

2022/05/31 [Turkey, Ankara / online]: Ankara Bar Association seminar: "LEO Communication Satellites in International Law"

2022/08/22 [online] Internet Society Foundation on Spotify podcast: "LEO satelites"

2022/12/09 [Slovakia, Bratislava / online]: GLOBSEC Focus 2023: "Identifying Priorities For Transatlantic Cooperation In Cyberspace"

2023/10/15 [Japan, Kyoto] IGF2023, WS #311 "Global Digital Value Chain: Africa’s Status and Way Forward" [YouTube]

2023/10/12: [Japan, Kyoto] IGF2023: "Data Governance in Broadband Satellite Services", co-organized with ISOC [YouTube]

2023/10/08 [Japan, Kyoto] IGF2023 Event #112 The Global Internet Governance Academic Network (GigaNet) Symposium: "Internet Fragmentation and its environmental impact: A case study of
Satellite Broadband" [YouTube]

2023/10/23 [Germany, Hamburg] ICANN78: The impact of technological advancements on ICANN: Ensuring the management of unique identifiers remains efficient and effective.[session details; recording]

2023/09/22 [online] ICANN EURALO Roundtable: "Multistakeholder Governance for New Internet Infrastructures: SpaceX, IRIS2, and Equitable Internet Access for All." [session details; recording]

2023/09/27 [online] IAB Technical Discussion: Satellite Networking [minutes]

2024/02/27 [online] Farabi University Roundtable Discussion: "WTO's role in realizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals"

2024/01/10 [Germany, Berlin] Cybersecurity Roundtable: "Satellite Cybersecurity: the case of Ukraine"

2024/03/01 [Israel, Jerusalem / online]: Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Federmann School of Public Policy and Government, Department of Communication,  Seminar series: "Satellite Internet: Trust and Data Governance"

RESOURCES

FOR A REVIEW OF RELEVANT LAWS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER RESEARCH RESOURCES SEE OUR LEOS DATABASE.

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RESEARCH TEAM

DECOLONIZING THE INTERNET: GLOBAL GOVERNANCE OF LEO SATELLITE BROADBAND

This project has been supported by the Internet Society Foundation (project ID DB 1/117969355.1) awarded to two individual researchers:

  • Joanna Kulesza, assistant professor at the Department of International Public Law and International Relations, Faculty of Law and Administration and head of Lodz Cyber Hub, University of Lodz, Poland and
  • Berna Akcali Gur, convenor for Space Law at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London, UK.

Throughout the life of this project, the two lead researchers have greatly benefited from the expertise, advice, and experience of a parallel yet independent Internet Society Working Group led by Dan York. We deeply appreciate the opportunity to work alongside the dedicated and generous ISOC team and strongly encourage you to join the LEOs community in Connect, review their repository and read their report.

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ABOUT THE INTERNET SOCIETY FOUNDATION

THE INTERNET IS FOR EVERYONE.

The Internet Society Foundation is a 501(c)(3) US nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the District of Columbia, USA. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees. Its focus is on funding initiatives that strengthen the Internet in function and reach so that it can effectively serve all people.

To this end, the Foundation supports efforts to ensure that the Internet is open, globally-connected, secure, and trustworthy. It champions the use of the network as a critical technical infrastructure that can bring communities better education, healthcare and economic opportunity among other important areas of focus. It is based on the belief that by working together, we can use the Internet to shape a better future for us all and positively impact humanity worldwide.

The Internet Society Foundation champions ideas and enables communities to unlock the Internet's potential to tackle the world’s evolving challenges.

Its work advances the vision of the Internet Society (ISOC): The Internet is For Everyone.

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